2026 Conference Speakers

Alison Perlberg, M.A.
Georgetown Memory Disorders Clinic

Bio: Alison Perlberg, M.A., is a Clinical Trials Coordinator within the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University, where she oversees clinical research targeting Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive and behavioral disorders. Driven by a commitment to advancing dementia research, she ensures the execution of high-quality clinical trials to accelerate the discovery of effective treatments. Alison holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Psychology from George Mason University, where she specialized in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience.

Bio: Brigid Reynolds, MSN, ANP-C, is an Adult Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Coordinator of the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University, where she also serves on the faculty. As a Research Investigator, she specializes in clinical trials, biomarkers, and managing the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

Reynolds has served as PI and Co-PI on numerous clinical trials. Notably, she co-led the LiBBY study, which evaluated an oral THC/CBD combination for agitation in hospice-eligible dementia patients, presenting its topline results at the July 2026 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London. She holds an MSN from the Catholic University of America, a BSN from Emory University, and is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Brigid Reynolds, MSN, ANP-C
Georgetown Memory Disorders Clinic

Erin Whalen
Compassionate Coaching’s Playback Theater

Bio: Erin Whalen is the founder of Compassionate Coaching, where she works with a team of facilitators, actors, and musicians to bring real stories to life through Playback Theatre. In this improvisational art form, the Compassionate Coaching team creates live reflections of attendees’ stories spontaneously, unlocking insight, emotion, and deep connection to others in the room. Their work brings reflection and shared understanding to schools, communities, conferences, and workplaces. With a mix of grounded presence and playful creativity, the Compassionate Coaching team helps people feel seen, heard, and connected in ways that are often surprising and memorable. Learn more at http://www.compassionatecoaching.org or contact Erin at erin@compassionatecoaching.org.

Bio: Heather Suri is a registered nurse of nearly 30 years and a credentialed care manager.  She founded an Aging Life Care Management practice in 2017 called Pathways in Aging and now leads a team that provides care management services throughout the Northern Virginia region. She has deep expertise in working with people with dementia and Parkinson’s. Heather is a past president of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Aging Life Care Association and serves on national ALCA committees. 

Heather Suri, BSN, RN, CMC
Pathways in Aging

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Jennifer Pauldurai, MD
Inova Brain Health and Memory Disorders Program

Bio: Dr. Jennifer Pauldurai, MD is a board-certified adult neurologist, specializing in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. She obtained her medical degree from Loma Linda University and then moved to George Washington University, where she completed both her Adult Neurology Residency and Masters of Science in Integrative Medicine. She pursued additional fellowship training in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry with the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, NV.

Bio: Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed is a caregiving strategist, Alzheimer’s advocate, and nationally recognized thought leader who has been the primary caregiver for her mother living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease for over 11 years. As a young, Black, millennial solo caregiver who began this journey at age 26, Jessica brings urgent visibility to demographics often overlooked in caregiving conversations. She is the founder of Jessica C. Guthrie Caregiving Consultancy and bridges lived caregiving experience with strategic leadership to help organizations move America’s 63 million family caregivers from invisible to integral.

Her expertise has been featured in PBS documentaries, major publications, and policy forums from the United Nations to Capitol Hill. Through speaking engagements, strategic consulting, and educational workshops, Jessica transforms how organizations support caregivers—ensuring they move from being an afterthought to becoming integral partners in care. Jessica believes caregivers deserve more than sympathy. They deserve systems that work. 

Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed
jessicacguthrie.com

Liletta Harlem, CDP
Founder and President of My Natural Me and Director of the Dementia Caregivers Support Program

lilettaharlem.com

Bio: Liletta Harlem is an author, speaker, dementia advocate, and nonprofit leader dedicated to supporting caregivers and families affected by dementia-related illnesses. She is the Founder and President of My Natural Me and Director of the Dementia Caregivers Support Program, where she develops educational programs, support groups, workshops, and community partnerships focused on caregiver wellness and dementia awareness.

A certified Dementia Care Practitioner, life coach, and former domestic violence facilitator, Liletta combines professional training with personal experience as a caregiver for her mother living with Alzheimer’s disease. Her work centers on helping caregivers navigate the emotional, practical, and relational challenges that often accompany the caregiving journey.

Liletta is also the author of Aging Without Judgment Through education, advocacy, and storytelling, she empowers caregivers with resources, connection, and hope while promoting greater dementia awareness throughout the community.

Bio: A native of the DMV, Mitchell Opalski graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1986 with a degree in Accounting & Finance. After many years in the world of Financial Auditing, he joined the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) on Capitol Hill. As COO there he fell in love with the concept of taking care of people at home and eventually pivoted his health care career to open his own franchise agency, SYNERGY HomeCare of Arlington. He grew the agency by double digit percentages each of its first 5 years, winning numerous annual awards from the franchisor for growth, revenue, and customer service. His agency is now one of largest in the SYNERGY HomeCare nationwide franchise system. For the past three years, his agency was named one of the top 100 in the nation based on high customer satisfaction ratings gathered by the industry watchdog – Home Care Pulse. He enjoys contributing to the community in which he has lived his entire adult life, serving on non-profit boards such as Senior Services of Alexandria and Arlington Commission on Aging; volunteering with Meals on Wheels; and supporting amazing community organizations like the Arlington Free Clinic, At Home in Alexandria, and Insight Memory Care. He loves preaching the gospel of Home Care to organizations like the Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium.

Mitchell L. Opalski, CPA
SYNERGY Home Care

Steff Walker
Gentiva Family of Hospices

Bio: Steff Walker is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for the Gentiva family of Hospices and has served in the Hospice field for the past 16 years. Steff is passionate about education and has an inner drive to build collaborative connectivity amongst communities and Health Care teams. She has the privilege of supporting teams throughout the United States through Inspiration, Education, Celebration, and Accountability. Her creative communication skills have been utilized in a variety of public speaking settings to encourage and engage audiences across the country. Steff shares that her experience of growing up overseas, developed in her a heart of compassion and a deep respect for the uniqueness of every human life.